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Eggplant is one of the major vegetable crops in Japan, with an annual production value exceeding 80 billion yen. However, damage caused by bacterial wilt, a soil-borne disease, has become increasingly serious throughout Japan due to recent climate warming. Bacterial wilt develops at relatively high temperatures (25-35°C), and as soil temperatures rise, both the affected areas and the duration of outbreaks have expanded, making it difficult to achieve sufficient control using conventional measures such as soil disinfection and grafting using resistant rootstocks.

To address this issue, NARO has bred "Anominori Power," the world's first eggplant cultivar for use as a scion with resistance to bacterial wilt, and completed its variety registration in October 2025 (Fig. 1). This cultivar is a practical variety that combines a level of resistance to bacterial wilt comparable to that of commonly used rootstock cultivars with parthenocarpy, prickleless, and resistance to Verticillium wilt. Seeds have been sold by a private seed company since December 2025, and seedling sales began in April 2026.

Furthermore, to promote dissemination throughout Japan, NARO prepared and released on May 21, 2026, a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) entitled "Eggplant Cultivar 'Anominori Power' with Resistance to Bacterial Wilt," summarizing key cultivation practices and important considerations according to cultivation regions and conditions. These SOPs describe management practices to ensure full expression of resistance to bacterial wilt, as well as cultivation techniques contributing to stable fruit set and increased yield, thereby enabling appropriate cultivation management adapted to local environmental conditions.

By utilizing both the new cultivar and the SOPs, stable production of high-quality eggplant can be achieved even in areas where bacterial wilt damage has been a serious problem.